Upholstery suspending means



lum. 6%

w. H. W ILSON- UPHOLSTERY SUSPENDING MEANS Fil ed Oct. 7, 1930 April 19, 1932.

Patented Apr. 19, 1932 WILLIAM H. WILSON, OF SEWICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA UPI-IOLSTERY SUSPENDING' MEANS Application filed October 7, 1930. Serial No. 486,980.

I-Ieretofore resilient seats have been con-v structed by providing a seat pad supported 5 on a plurality of coiled'springs which are in turn carried by a plurality of web members. Ordinarily the web members are secured to the bottom edge of a wooden frame by means of nails or tacks that are driven into the to frame in the upward direction. With the tacks inserted in this direction the vertical loads applied to the webbing act in the direction tending to pull the tacks out, and the longitudinal loads, which result when 1 the webbing is depressed near the center, tend to tear the webbing and to loosen the tacks by exerting large forces upon them at right angles to the direction in which they enter the wood.

If a piece of furnitureso constructed has been in use for some time, it frequently happens that the tacks are so loosened that-they.

pull out under the influence of vertical forces and permit the end of the webbing to become detached from the frames This causes the seat structure to sag and places excessive loadson the remaining pieces of webbing. Unless repairs are made at once the other strips of webbing may be torn, or so. their supporting tacks pulled out and the piece of furniture rendered useless; When repairs are made, the tacks are sometimes replaced in the holes from which'they were withdrawn or the frame may be split or satisfactory repair job cannot be effected.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a seat structure for furniture and struction and that may readily and economically be manufactured.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide means for mounting spring sup- 50 v A further object of the invention is to prootherwise weakened in such manner that ar the like that is durable and rugged in' convide a supporting structure for the webs of upholstered furniture that prevents saggingof the webs by holding them under tension, that provides resiliency to enable the webs to absorb unusual shocks without injury, and that adds resiliency to the seat structure.

The foregoing and other objects of the illvention may be attained by means of the structure shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a portion of the frame for a piece of furniture showing the mechanism which em bodies my invention in operating position and functioning to support the webs; Fig. 2 is a View in cross section of the back frame member showing in detail the manner of fastening the end of the web to that member; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the front frame member and the manner in which the other end of the web is fastened to it.

According to the present-invention, I provide novel means for supporting the seat portion of a piece of furniture in which the usual web strips are used but are so connect ed to the frame of the article that resiliency is provided to hold the strip taut and to prevent failure of the strip in the event that it is overloaded.- The particular embodiment of the invention which is shown in the drawing represents part of a standard piece of furniture, such as a chair, couch or davenport, comprising a frame 1 that may be supported upon legs in the usual manner. The frame 1 may comprise two end pieces 2, a back side piece 3, and a front side piece 4. The side pieces 3 and a are joined to the end pieces 2 by corner posts or legs 5 to constitute a substantially rectangular supporting member for the seat of the piece of furniture. The seat ordinarily comprises a seat pad (not shown) that is supported by means of a plurality of helicoidal springs 6 carried in the frame l-by means of longitudinal and transverse strips of webbing 7 and 8. As shown in Fig. 1 the springs 6 are ordinarily disposed at th positions where the various strips of webbing 7 and 8 cross each other, and are fastened by being sewed, or as it is termed, tacked, to the webbing by means of threads or cords 9.

In furniture as ordinarily constructed, the webs 7 and 8 are simply passed under the end and side members 2 and 3, respectively, and secured to them by tacks driven into their bottom edges. To avoid the difficulties which have been experienced with this method offastening the webs I have by the present invention provided a much more satisfactory method of connecting them to the frame members. As shown in the drawings, the webs in this instance are not connected di rectly to the frame members, but are carried by pairs of brackets 14 and 15 that are in turn securely fastened to the frame 1.

Each of the brackets 14 and 15 comprises a flat piece or strap of metal 16 that is disposed to engage the inner surface of the frame member 1 and is bent at its ends to overlie the top andbottom of the frame and to conform closely thereto. As shown, the brackets 14 and 15 are disposed on the frame 1 in pairs in such manner that the members of each pair are positioned at the sides of one end of a strip 7 or 8. Each bracket 14 or 15 is securely fastened in place by means of screws or nails 17 that are driven through holes in the strip 16 into the top, bottom and side of the frame member 1.

Referring particularly to the longitudinal strip of webbing 7, both. ends of the strip are attached to the end members 2 of the frame 1 in the manner shown with regard to one end in Fig. 1. In order that the strip 7 may be held taut at all times and yet be free to deflect or give under the influence of excessive loads or shocks, the end fastening means are devised to hold the strip resiliently and to exert upon it a tension force.

As illustrated, the end of the strip 7 looped or doubled back upon itself and sewed to form a loop or pocket 21 for receiving a supporting bar 22. The supporting bar 22 is provided at its ends with holes 23 into which are hooked the ends of a pair of helical tension springs 24 that depend from lugs 25 formed integrally with the brackets 14 and 15. The lugs 25 are provided, at their ends, with holes 26 for receiving the hooks on the upper ends of the springs 24. As shown, the lugs 25 are formed at the upper portion of the brackets 14 and 15 by bending outwardly portions formed integral with the strips 16 in such manner that they extend in the direction of the web 7 and on adjacent sides of the brackets 14 and 15.

In order that the force exerted in the vertical direction upon the end of the strip 7 may be transmitted to the horizontal portion of the strip, the lower portions of the brackets 14 and 15 are provided on their adjacent sides with outwardly extending lugs 31 in which is journalled a rod or roller 32 for'guiding the web 7 from, the vertical plane tothe horizontal plane.

As shown, the lugs 31 are disposed directly below the lugs 25 and are provided with relatively large holes or bearings for receiving the ends of the roller 32. It is apparent that by means of this supporting device a tension force is applied to each end of the web 7 in the vertical direction and that this force is transmitted through the web and around the roller 82 to the horizontal portion of the web. By reason of this tension force the horizontal portion of the web is held taut, and, if no load is applied to it, it will lie in a horizontal plane at all times without sagging.

Inasmuch as the only positive connection between the web 7 and the frame 1 is made by means of the vertical springs 24, it is clear that whatever vertical load may be imposed upon the Web 7 must be suspended directly from these springs. These springs 24 are thus in series relation with the springs 6 and add directly to the resilience of the system.

When a load is applied to the web, it will be deflected downwardly at the position in which the load is applied and will transmit the tension force set up within it by the load around the rollers 32 to the Vertical suspension springs 24. The springs 24 will deflect in proportion to the force applied to them and will permit the end bars 22 to move downwardly, thereby allowing a portion of the end of the web. which is in the vertical plane to pass under the roller 32 into the horizontal position to permit the horizontal portion of the web 7 to be depressed naturally under the applied load without unduly stretching the material.

In the event that a sudden shock or excessive load be applied to the web 7 momentarily, the springs 24 may be deflected a considerable amount in permitting the web to deflect in response to. the load. However, as soon as the excessive load is removed, the springs 24 will again contract and draw the web 7 to its original taut. position. This cycle will be accomplished without injury to any portion of the upholstery, whereas if an excessive load is applied to a Web that is fastened rigidly to; the frame, as by tacks, it is quite probable that the tacks will be pulled out or the web torn inasmuch as there is no resiliency in the structure to permit sufficient deflection to absorb the load without damage.

In addition to maintaining the web taut without sagging, even though the web itself may stretch somewhat in use, and in preventing injury to the structure from sudden shocks, my resilient supporting device adds a considerable degree of resiliency to the seat structure supplemental to that provided by the usual springs'6. This feature is particularly advantageous when the device embodying this invention is applied to upholstered furniture in which there is not suflicient room to apply springs 6 of the height necessary to providea satisfactory amount of resilience. In this case springs 6 of relatively small dimensions may be utilized and carried on webs resiliently supported in accordance with my invention to constitute a seat having resilience equivalent to that ordinarily found onlyin seats with much deeper cushions.

The rollers 32 may be held in the lugs 31 of the brackets 14 and 15 in any well known manner, but I prefer to provide upstruck bosses or keys 35 near each end thereof which engage the outer surfaces of the lugs 31 when the roller 32 is in its operating position. Notches or keyways 36 are provided in the lugs 31 to permit the keys 35 to be passed through them in the assemblying process. After the roller 32 has been placed in position it may be turned to move the key 35 out of alignment with the keyway 36. In making the loops 21 at the ends of the webs, it is desirable that the ends be doubled back a sufficient distance to provide double thickness of the web at theposition where it passes beneath the roller 32.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the ends of the transverse webs 8 are attached to the back frame member 3 by the resilient connecting means that has just been described as applied to both ends of the longitudinal webs 7. However, it has been found desirable to attach the other ends of the transverse webs 8 solidly to the front frame member 4. For this purpose pairs of brackets, of which one bracket 38 is shown in Fig, 3, are utilized. These brackets are quite similar to the brackets 14 and 15 with the exception that they are not provided with lugs corresponding to the spring supporting lugs 25, and that the lugs 41. at the lower portion of the brackets 38, which correspond to the lugs 31, are made somewhat shorter. As shown, the lugs 41 are provided with openings for receiving a bar or roller 32, but in this case the bar 32 is passed directly through the loop 21 in the end of the web 8 to make a solid connection between this end of the web and the front frame member 4.

In manufacturing apiece of furniture embodying my invention, the frame member 1 is brought to the upholstering department with the brackets fastened upon the side and end members in their proper positions. Longitudinal and transverse strips of webbing 7 and 8 respectively, of the proper lengths and provided with end loops 21, are then placed in position for mounting. The loops 21 at the ends of the transverse webs 8 adjacent the front frame member 4 are first disposed in their normal positions between the lugs 41 on the front brackets 38. One of the rods 32 is then inserted into each loop 21 by passing it through the holes in the lugs 41 with the keys 35 on the shaft in alignment With notches 36 in the lugs. The shaft 32 may then be given a half turn to securely lock it in place. The loops 21 at the other ends of the transverse webs 8 and at the ends ofthe longitudinal webs 7 are then opened and the supporting bars 22 passed through them. The springs 24 may next be hooked into the holes 23 at the ends of'the bars 22 and into the holes 26 of the upper lugs 25 on the brackets 14 and 15 in such manner that all of the webs will be suspended loosely within the frame 1. i The rollers 32 may then be inserte through the lugs 31 of the brackets 14 and 15 at one end of the frame 1 in the same manner in 'which they were applied to the brackets at the front of the frame, with the exception that the rollers 32 are passed over the top of the webs 7 instead of through the loops 21. Inasmuch as the other ends of the webs 7 are simply suspended loosely by the springs 24, this operation may be performed without exerting any appreciable amount of force on the webs.

However, in order to insert the remaining rollers 32 in the brackets at the other end and back of the frame 1, itwill be necessary to apply force to the webbing to draw it into its operating position by stressing the springs 24. This .may be accomplished by any suitable tool that is adapted to engage the webbing and force it downwardly and outwardly to permit the rollers 32 to be passed through the lugs 31 and over the webbing as shown in the drawings.

l Vhen the webbing has been drawn up to its operating position, it will present a substantially plane surface in the bottom of the frame 1 upon which the upholstery springs 6 may be mounted. As hereinbefore described, the springs 6 may be attached to the webs 7 and 8, preferably at the positions where they cross, by means of stitches 9.

To properly position the upper ends of the springs 6, it is the usual practice to tie adjacent springs together by means of a suitable cord 43 and to extend a'similar cord 44 from the side of the spring adjacent the frame 1 to a nail 45 or other suitable connecting means on the frame. As shown in Fig. 1,- the nail 45 is permitted to protrude from the frame member 3 a suiiicient. distanceto provide room. for tying the string 44 beneath its head. After the string is tied, the nail may be driven down to grip the string 44 tightly between the head of the nail and the cooperating surface. Preferably the nail 45 is inserted through a hole in the upper portion of one of the brackets and adjacent a nail 17 to assist in securing the bracket as well as to form an anchor for the string 44.

After the springs 6 have been mounted on the webs 7 and 8, the usual pad-and covering may be applied to them in a well known manner to complete the seat structure.

From the foregoing description of the resilient web suspending means which embodies my invention it is apparent that I have provided a supporting structure for the seats of upholstered furniture that is substantially indestructible and that will not depreciate in efliciency with age. Further,

I have provided means for supporting the of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a seat supporting structure for furniture comprising legs and a frame, a strip of webbing disposed horizontally across the frame, a bracket on one side of the frame having means for guiding one end of the strip into a vertical plane, resilient means disposed on the bracket to exert vertical tension force on the upwardly extending end of the strip, and means for attaching the other end of the strip to the other side of the frame.

2. A seat structure comprising a rectangular frame, a plurality of strips of webbing disposed across the frame, brackets on the ends of the frame having guide members for guiding the ends of the strips upwardly, resilient means for fastening the ends of the strips to the brackets, a plurality of strips of webbing disposed across the frame at right angles to the firstmentioned strips,brackets on the back of the frame having guide members for guiding the ends of the strip upwardly, resilient means for fastening the upwardly extending ends of the strips to the brackets, and means for fastening the other ends of the strips solidly to the front of the frame.

3. A piece of furniture comprising a frame, brackets secured to opposite sides of the frame, a web secured at one end to the brackets at one side of the frame, a roller journalled in the brackets at the other side of the frame, said web being passed under the roller and extending upwardly, vertically disposed springs carried by the brackets and connected to the upwardly extending end of the web to hold it taut, and a seat structure carried by the web.

4:. Upholstery suspending means comprising a frame, a pair of brackets for attaching ported by the springs, a strip of webbing secured to the bar and passed beneath the roller, and means for attaching the other end of the webbing to the other side of the frame.

5. In an upholstered article, a rectangular frame, a strip of webbing disposed horizontally across the bottom of the frame, means for securing one end of the strip to one side of the frame, a bracket carried by the other side of the frame, a roller journalled in the bracket and disposed to guide the strip from the horizontal to the vertical direction, vertically disposed tension springs carried by the bracket and connected to the vertically guided end of the strip to hold it taut, and a seat structure carried by the strip of webbing.

6. In a seat supporting structure for a piece of furniture comprising a frame and supporting legs, a strip of Webbing having looped ends disposed across the bottom of the frame, a pair of brackets disposed on the frame, one at each side of the strip, lugs on the brackets, a roller journalled in the lugs for guiding the strip into a vertical plane, a supporting bar disposed through the loop at the end of the strip, a second set of lugs on the bracket-sin spaced relation to the first mentioned set, and springs carried by said second lugs and connected to the supporting bar for exerting tension force on the strip.

7. In a seat supporting structure for a piece of furniture comprising a frame and supporting legs, a strip of webbing having looped ends disposed across the bottom of the frame, a pair of brackets disposed on the frame, one at each side of the strip, lugs on the brackets, a supporting bar in engagement with the lugs and passing through the loop at the end of the strip to securely fasten the strip to the frame, a second pair of brackets disposed one at each side of the strip at the other side of the frame, lugs on the brackets, a roller journalled in the lugs for guiding the strip into a vertical plane, a supporting bar disposed through the loop at the vertically disposed end of the strip, a second set of lugs on the brackets in spaced relation to the first mentioned set, and springs carried by said second lugs and connected to the supporting bar for exerting tension force on the strip.

8. In an upholstered seat structure, a frame, a strip of webbing disposed across the frame, brackets carried by the frame, a roller journalled in the brackets for guiding the webbing, and resilient means connected to the brackets and to the webbing for holding it taut.

In testimony whereof, I sign my name.

WILLIAM H. WILSON. 

